Musical traps



June 2, 1931. F. J. TROPPE 1,808,085 v Y MUS ICAL TRAPS Filed Aug. l, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor By @www Attorney June 2, 1931. F, J, TROPPE 1,808,085

MUSICAL TRAPS @QM m A Harney .June 2, 1931. F J, TROPPE 1,808,085

MUSICAL TRAPS Filed Aug. l, 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ven for frfcerz'a Trop/Je,

A Homey Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES FREDERICK J'. TROPPE, 0F JOLIET, ILLINOIS MUSICAL TRAPS Application led August 1, 1929. Serial No. 382,641.

This invention relates to a novel compound structure generally referred to in the trade as a drummers traps, and it has more particular refernce to a novel assemblage of ap- 6 pliances including a bass drum, a snare drum, cymbals, and multiple operating means therefor.

Under ordinary conditions, the bass drum is arranged with its playing head facing the performer', the crash cymbals are supported on the bass drum or ad] acent it and has separate means, and the snare drum on an individual stand, to be played with drum sticks in a well known manner.

In accordance with the present invention I have evolved and produced what I believe to be an unusually unique assemblage wherein both drums are supported in spaced parallelism with each other and in a vertical position, but at right angles to the performer,

the construct-ion including novel pedal actuated impact elements, susceptible of being operated simultaneously with both feet of the performer, whereby to allow a hand t0 be free for simultaneously playing an entirely separate musical instrument, for instance a violin, saxophone, accordion or the like, in order to enable a single performer to play a lead musical instrument and to accompany himself in proper rythm through the aid of the traps.

I have in mind, a structure which is characterized by unusual simplicity, economy, and compact-ness and convenience of arrangement, which is so made as to afford the desired clearance and freedom of motion of the hands to permit a practical multiple performance on instrument and traps.

The particular structural details and their association and arrangement will become more readily apparent fromthe following description and drawings.

In the drawings Y Figure 1 is an edge elevational view of the complete assemblage as it appears when faced by the player.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view observing the structure seen in Fig. 1 in a direction from right to left.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with certain of the parts removed to show the bass drum and its associated appurtenances.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the foot pedals.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Attention is first invited to Fig. 1, wherein it will be observed that the numeral 7 designates a conventional bass drum, 8 a conventional snare drum, and 9 an ordinary bass drum cymbal. The means for playing the bass drum comprises, as seen in Fig. 3, a bass plate 10, a spring return foot pedal 11 mounted thereon, and an upright 12. The upright is formed rigid with the base plate 10 and terminates at its top in a. horizontal tubular bearing 13 in which a rock shaft 14 is mounted for oscillation.

This rock shaft includes a rocker arm 15 on one end operatively connected with the pedal 11 through the medium of a link 16. The rock shaft is formed on its opposite end with the impact device and includes an arm 17 and a felt impact hammer-head 18 which cooperates with the drum head. The arm 17 is formed with a right angularly extending striker 19 terminating in a head which cooperates with a stationary bass drum cymbal 9. The plate 10 is formed with a suitable clamp 20 which engages over the rim of the bass drum. With this arrangement, it is permissible to play the drum in a position at right angles to that ordinarily followed. 85

Closely associated with the bass drum is a snare drum 8 which in the present instance is supported in a vertical position in spaced parallelism alongside of the bass drum. It is attached to upper and lower clamps 21 and 22 respectively having a suitable attaching means, for instance the clamp 21 has a set screw 28, engaging the rim of the snare drum.

These bracket arms are carried by and adjustable on a stand generally designated by the numeral 24. The stand has a suitable base 25 and a tubular standard 26 rising therefrom. Mounted for reciprocation in this standard is a rod 27 connected by linkage 28 with a second spring return foot pedal 100 29. On the upper end of the standard 26 is a stationary crash cymbal 30 and carried by the operating rod 27 is a complemental or companion cymbal 3l.

Gbviously then, the operation of the pedal 29 permits the cymbal to be manipulated in accordance with the desires of the performer. This necessitates the playing of the .bass drum and its pedal 11 with the left foot and the pedal 29 with the right foot. The stand in-V cludes appropriate bracing and supporting legs 32 and has link connections as at 33 with the aforesaid upright whereby to join the parts in proper spaced relationship.l Y

There is a third spring return foot pedal 34 operated'by the right foot and connected with the link 35 which is in turn connected with the rocker varm 36' pivotally mounted on the aforesaid bracket arm 22, and this rocker arm has operating connection with a pair of snare drum beaters 37 and 38 respectively. `These are arranged like the head of the snare drum either simultaneously or in slight retarded rapid succession. Each beater comprisesan arm 38 having a spring coil 39 to .afford the desired resiliency and an impact head 4:0 of appropriate shape and material to strike the head or diaphragm of the snare drums. f

With this arrangement the performer may occupy a. chair., operate the bass drum with the left foot `and the snare drum and associate cymbal appurtan-ces with the right foot. At the saine time, the performer will have freedom of the hands to simultaneously manipu-V late an individual type of musical instrument, such as a horn, violin, or accordion or the like.

The performer will thus be capable of providing a one-man band. A careful consideration off the description in Vconnection with the drawings, will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the structure, operation, and advantages and features of the improved structure. rTherefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

,Minorchanges in shape, size, and vmaterials, Vand rearrangement of details coming within the fieldzofinvention claimed, maybe resorted tov inV actual practice if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. A structure of the character described 'comprising' a standard, a drum supporting arm projecting from the standard, a drum 'beater mounted for swinging movement on the arm, and operating means connected to the beater.

2; A structure of the character described comprising a vertical standard, an arm projecting from an intermediate.portion of the "standard, a clamp mounted on the standard inspaced relation above the arm, said arm and yclamp kadapted to support drum on the standard, a drum beater mounted for swinging movement on the free end portion of the arm, and a foot pedal operatively connected to the beater for actuating said beater.

3. A. structure of the character described comprising a tubular standard, a stationary cymbal mounted on the upper endportion of the tubular standard, a rod mounted for reciprocation in the tubular standard and projecting thereabove, a cymbal fixed on .the upper end portion of the rod for reciprocating movement therewith' and engageable with the stationary cymbal, and a foot operated pedal connected with the lower end portion of the rod for actuating said rod.

4. A structure ofthe character described comprising a `horizontally disposedbase, a tubular standard extendingk .upwardly from tlierbase,-.a stationary cymbal mounted on the upper end portion of the tubular standard,

said .stationary cymbal disposed co-axially with.respocttothe tubular standard, a rod mouutedV for vertical reciprocating movement in thetubular standard. and extending centrally/through the stationary cymbal, .a cymbal 'adjustably mounted on the upper end portion'of the rod for movement with said rod .and engageable with the stationary cymbal, a foot pedal pivotally Vmounted on the base, and means operatively connecting the foot pedal with Vthe lower end portion of the rod for kactuating said rod.

5. A structure of the character described comprising a standard, a stationary cymbal mounted on the upper end portion of the standard, movable cymbal engageable with thestationary cymbahineans for. operating the movable cymbal, an arm projecting later- Vally from an Vintermediate portion ofthe standard, a beaterinounted for swinging j movement onthe arm, and means for manually actuating the beater. l

6. A structure ofthe character described comprisinga tubular standard, an arm-projecting vlaterally from-'an intermediate portion lof thestandard, .a clamp mounted on the standard in spaced relation above the arm, said armand the clamp constituting means for lsecuring a snare drum on the standard, a beater mounted for swinging movement kon the free end portion of the arm,'a foot pedal operatively connected with the beater, a stationary cymbal on the upper end portion of the standard, a rod disposed for vertical reciprocation in the standard and projecting thereabove,a cymbal mounted on the upper end portion of the. rod for movement therewith and engageable with the Astationary cymbal, and a foot pedal operatively connected to the lower end portion of the rod for actuating 'said rod.

57. A structure of the characterrdescribed comprising a horizontally disposed base, a

tubular standard extending outwardly from iis the base, an armrprojecting laterally from an mounted for vertical adjustment on the standard above the arm, said arm and the clamp constituting means for supporting a. snare drum on the standard, a drum beater mounted for swinging movement on the free end portion of the arm, a foot pedal operatively connected to the beater for actuating said beater, a stationary cymbal mounted coaxially on the upper end portion of the standard, a rod mounted for vertical reciprocation in the standard and projecting above the upper end of said standard, a movable cymbal adjustably mounted on the upper end portion of the rod for movement with said rod and engageable with the stationary cymbal, a foot pedal mounted on the base, and means operatively connecting the foot pedal to the lower end portion of the rod.

8. A structure of the character described comprising a base, means for connecting Said base to a drum, an upright mounted on the base, a bearing disposed horizontally on the upper end of the upright, a foot pedal mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane.

on the base adjacent the upright, a shaft mounted for rocking movement in the bearing and projecting from the opposite ends of said bearing, a drum beater fixed on one end portion of the shaft, an arm fixed on the opposite end portion of the shaft and disposed at right angles to the pedal, and means operatively connecting the arm to the pedal.

9. A structure of the character described comprising a support, a drum beater mounted for swinging movement on the support, and a foot pedal operatively connected to the drum beater for actuating said drum beater, the pedal being disposed at right angles to the direction of movement of the drum beater.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

FREDERICK J. TROPPE. 

